Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal has said universities are the hub of research and education and responsible for the creation of new knowledge and social development.
"Human civilisation has actually entered an era of information revolution and the roadmap for Pakistan's development and progress is related with research and education," he said in a speech during a seminar on "higher education institutions' role to achieve vision 2025: policy emphasis", organised by the University of Education at the Township Campus on Friday.
He admired the active role of the University of Education and advised students to pay attention to their studies and then briefed his audience, saying,
"The government has allocated a budget of Rs 78 billion to better the education sector and in the next decade, 1,000 PhD graduates will be produced in different subjects of strategic priority which is a clear glimpses into an educated and brighter future of Pakistan."
Six out of eight basic clauses of the vision are directly related to the fruitful role and better performance of higher education institutions.
In a speech, Punjab Higher Education Commission Chairman Doctor Nizam-ud-Din said, "The role of higher education institutions to achieve the desired goals of Vision 2025 is of great importance and cannot be neglected at any cost.
The commission is playing a vital role for the promotion of research culture and upgrading the universities and colleges, as well."
University of Education Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Rauf-i-Azam then thanked the guests and participants.